Rural Newsletter

Rural news in your inbox?

"Nothing has happened since 2014 and that's the problem," Mr Gray said.

"After being named the preferred developer in 2014 we thought that we'd be able to get stuck into the development straight away.

"Yet it wasn't until August 2016 that we received a lease, which we are still negotiating as it was written up with no understanding of what the project involved.

"At the moment we are also waiting on a clearing permit, but our confidence in getting that permit is very low, given the outcomes of a few other clearing permit applications in the Kimberley, like Mowanjum."

Departments hand-balling the project

Mr Gray said the project had spent two years being hand-balled between various government departments, costing his family time and money.

"When we took on this project we saw it as a great opportunity to expand our business and increase on our horticulture and grain production," he said.

"We have already taken on two more employees in anticipation of this project, but sadly it has become an arduous task with no clear outcomes in sight.

"If I had my time again, I would think twice before I wasted my time on the application process.

"As Catherine Marriott [from the Kimberley Pilbara Cattlemen's Association] said on the radio the other day, the politicians are on board, but there is a massive breakdown at the bureaucratic level and we have been fighting it for over two years now."

Progress is being made says Minister

Lands Minister Terry Redman, in a statement, said the process to lease or purchase Crown land was "complex with a number of statutory requirements that the department and proponents need to address".

"Although it would be ideal for the land tenure details to have been finalised earlier, the Department of Lands expects to be providing final documentation for a conditional purchase lease in the next week."

The government has provided no indication on when a clearing permit will be issued for the project.

The ABC asked the Department of Lands to provide a statement on why there has been such little progress in two years, to which it replied:

Why has it taken so long to develop a small farm in the Ord Valley?

"The Department of Lands (DoL) has been working with Mr Gray since the Minister for Lands announced the preferred proponents for two parcels of land in the Packsaddle area, south of Kununurra (in 2014).

"Tenure documentation for this proposal is in the final stages of drafting and will be given to Mr Gray next week for his acceptance.

"While Gray Australia's proposal is progressing, DoL has granted the proponent an access licence over the subject area from May 2, 2016, permitting the proponent to enter upon and use the area.

"The DoL ensures it follows proper and fair practice at all times. The process has been thorough.

"The DoL's due diligence and land assembly process involves referrals to external agencies, state departments, local government and other interest holders to ensure that all interests are taken into account and where needed they are protected before land can be transferred to proponents.

"This protects proponents from issues later and ensures the best outcome for the Western Australian community.

"Feedback on proposals can affect a proposed development outcome and trigger consultation and negotiation processes to reach a suitable outcome.

"This proposal has had significant hurdles to overcome through negotiation with relevant government agencies and stakeholders.

"The DoL has worked through these comments received from the referral process to ensure the necessary approvals were obtained and have kept Gray Australia informed of the progress of their application throughout this time."

Even before cases of strawberry sabotage crippled sales and cost the industry millions of dollars, Australian growers were despairing over dumping tonnes of perfectly good fruit that was too small or odd-shaped to find a market.